RADFORD, Va. – Conference play is officially here as the Radford men's basketball team welcomes the new-look High Point Panthers to the Dedmon Center on Wednesday night.
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: High Point Panthers (11-4, 0-0 Big South)
Date/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Radford, Va. (Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center)
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SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's contest will be the 55
th meeting between Radford and High Point, with the Highlanders earning a 31-23 lead in the all-time series so far.
Radford has posted a strong 18-9 record inside the Dedmon Center against the Panthers, including a 95-80 victory in the first meeting last season. HPU got revenge in the return game however, handing Radford a 69-64 defeat on Feb. 22, 2023.
DaQuan Smith dropped 19 points and six rebounds in that game, while
Justin Archer flirted with a double-double at 13 points and eight boards. The Panthers were led by Zach Austin's 20 points and five blocks, plus got double-digit efforts from three others as well.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
The High Point program made the decision to start anew for the 2023-24 season, hiring Alan Huss away from Creighton to be the Panthers' new Head Coach. Alongside Associate Head Coach Flynn Clayman, who was the acting head coach of Southern Utah at the CBI last year, Huss has built a contender in no time.
HPU went 11-4 in non-conference play, posting wins against the likes of Iona, North Florida, Western Carolina and Mike Jones' UNCG team. Troy transfer Duke Miles very well may the current frontrunner for Big South Player of the Year, averaging 18.3 points and 4.0 assists per game on 58.8% shooting, while Kimani Hamilton has come over from Mississippi State and dominated with 14.4 points and 8.1 rebounds of his own.
As a team, the Panthers rank 6
th in the nation with 19.4 made free throws per game and 9
th in the nation with a +11.8 rebounding margin. Their offense is as dangerous as it comes, ranking 19
th in the country with 85.3 points per contest, aided by a 55.4 effective field goal percentage and 12.8 fast break points per game.
BIG SOUTH OPENERS
The Highlanders have excelled in their Big South-opening games in recent years, going 8-2 over the last 10 seasons. Following a 62-60 defeat to UNC Asheville in the 2014-15 season, Radford won seven straight conference openers before falling to UNC Asheville again last season, 62-58.
During this 10-year streak of strong starts, the Highlanders have played High Point in their first Big South game just once: a 73-62 victory during the 2019-20 campaign.
HALFTIME TALLIES
Playing well in the first half of games has been a real strength of the Highlanders this season. So much so in fact, that Radford has either led or been tied at halftime in 13 of 15 games so far.
The team is 8-2 when leading at the break, 2-1 when being tied, and 0-2 when trailing. The only two opponents the Highlanders have fallen behind through 20 minutes? #19 North Carolina in the season opener and #18 Clemson in Radford's most recent outing.
FOLLOW RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford men's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordHoops on Twitter, 'radfordhoops' on Instagram or Radford Men's Basketball on Facebook.
